Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker (Cocker Brothers #30)

18. Tom

EIGHTEEN

Tom

I push open the door, and a rich, warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee envelops me. It’s the promise of something to look forward to, which I need. Wow. Wall-to-wall people in here. Relaxed and looking forward to hitting the books, I scan the room, my heart stopping when I spot her. Zoe sits in the corner and, for a moment, I’m lost in the way her hair catches the light, a cascade of brown with honey that frames her ethereal face perfectly.

But she’s not alone.

Dang it. She’s with that guy she’s engaged to. My hackles sharpen as I take a couple steps, not sure if I’m going to approach them or get my coffee and get out of here before they see me.

Wait a second.

No.

I’m wrong.

It’s not him.

Her brother, Nicholas Cocker — who I haven’t seen in years — leans back in the chair opposite her, arms crossed.

My heart resumes a healthier rhythm as I remind myself that I’m just here for a quick caffeine fix to get some studying done, not to swoon over my boss. She’s taken. I’m too late. I blew my chance. Approaching the counter, I focus on my order. “One Americano, please.”

A purple-haired barista asks, “Room for milk?”

“No thanks.”

“For here?”

“Make it to-go, thank you.” I steal another glance at Zoe. She looks right at me and her face brightens, a smile breaking the room in half like the parting of the sea between us.

She waves me over, “Tom!”

My heart races again despite my telling it to calm down, as I stroll my way to her table, fighting the urge to run to her. Fall to my knees. Beg her not to marry that guy.

“Hey Boss, what’s up?”

“Oh um, nothing,” she shrugs as Nicholas stays fixated on his phone, thumbs tapping out something that, from the look on his face, is important. “Just um…grabbing a quick coffee before Nicholas takes me home.”

Is there an undercurrent of tension between them? I can’t get a read on it but she looks uncomfortable, so I frown, “You okay?”

“That’s a really good question,” he mutters without looking up.

“Good to see you, too, Nicholas,” I offer, forcing a grin. The atmosphere feels charged, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m intruding on something private that wasn’t fun.

Nicholas blinks up to me, lowering his phone as he squints in recognition. “Tom Bennet?” A grin spreads and he rises to shake my hand. “Good to see you! How long’s it been?”

I give it a firm shake, “Good to see you, too.” We drop our hands. “Last time I ran into you was at The Punchline comedy club years back. Don’t think we’ve run into each other since.”

“You in this part of town?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not out this way much.”

Zoe chimes in, “The Vortex.”

Nicholas reminds her, “You and I usually go to the one in Midtown, Zoe.”

“Oh right,” she smiles, beautiful green eyes rolling at her forgetfulness.

“Closer to my house,” he lets me know.

“Ah,” I nod.

“Americano, no room!” the barista shouts over the many conversations.

“That’s me.” I jog my thumb toward the counter. “Just came in to jump-start my psyche.”

“This late?” Zoe asks.

“Studying tonight.”

“Oh! That makes sense.”

Nicholas glances to his phone. “Dammit, forgot to hit send. Hang on. My wife is wondering when I’m coming home.”

“You got married?”

“Madison,” he nods and sits down, reading her text. “Stunner. Saint. Ball buster.” Tapping away on his phone he adds, “I love her more than I’ve loved anyone or anything.”

My gaze locks onto Zoe. She’s staring at him, fingering her necklace in thought. And here I am awkwardly standing beside their table knowing I have to go get that coffee, leave this place, let her live her life…without me and my stupid romantic ideas. “Good to see you both.”

Zoe looks up at me, brow furrowing. “Tom, you wouldn’t mind giving me a ride home, would you? I came with Nicholas, but…” Her voice trails off, and she bites her lip, looking at me with those big, green eyes of hers filled with hope.

“Of course,” I reply too quickly. “I’d be happy to.”

“Sent!” Nicholas looks up. “What’d I miss?”

“Tom is going to give me a ride home.”

“Oh good! That’s perfect.” They rise up and he hugs Zoe. “Bye sis, I’m sorry I made you face the music.”

“This is so rough!”

He exhales, hugs her tighter. “It’s gonna be okay.”

“I know it will,” she whispers, closing her eyes and hugging him back.

Completely in the dark, I decide to wait until we’re alone to ask her what’s going on. “Just gonna grab my coffee.”

“And Ralphie is in my brother’s car out front.”

“Oh right! You’ve gotta get Ralphie,” Nicholas says, “I’ll meet you outside,” making his way through the crowd with his head down as he taps out a text to his wife, probably telling her he’ll be home quicker than he thought since I’m driving Zoe home.

“You came here straight from Florist Shop?”

“Yes,” she sighs, “I am so crazy tired.”

“Let’s get you back home.”

“I’ll wait while you get your coffee.”

In silence we walk to the counter where an array of coffees and teas await those who ordered them. It’s so busy nobody’s taken the time to clean spilled liquid off the counter, and there’s a lot of it. I grab my takeout cup and pause as Zoe reaches to gently pick up a folded and damp dishrag. She mops up the spills, returns the rag to its home, and walks past me for the door. I smile as I follow her, thinking that Nicholas might think his wife is a saint, but has he noticed his sister?

We step outside, cool air hitting us. Zoe hugs herself and shivers.

“Hold this,” I mumble, handing her my coffee.

“Ooooh, warm!”

I slide my jacket off and place it on her shoulders. “Here ya go, Boss.”

She beams, “Thank you!” and hands me my coffee.

“Tom!” Nicholas calls out as he walks up. “Take the little fluff ball.”

I grin, “Sure! Heya Ralphie,” retrieving the carrier from him.

“You got it?” he asks.

“Got it.”

“Cool. It was good seeing you again.”

“You too.”

Heading toward what looks to be a brand new Audi, Nicholas Cocker waves over his shoulder, announcing, “We’ll be there when everyone meets your new guy, Zoe!”

My chest boils up.

“Okay, Nicholas,” she returns without enthusiasm.

“Ready? My Jeeps around the corner.”

She reaches for the carrier. “Can I hold Ralphie?”

“Of course.” I angle my shoulder to enable her to slide the strap easily down from it. “You seem a little sad, or is that just my imagination?”

She hugs the carrier to her heart. “Yeah.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Side by side we walk in no hurry.

“My parents want to meet Caleb, and now Nicholas just said he and Maddie will be there, too. I’m sure that means Wyatt and Nathan will come, too, and they can be so…aggressive.”

“Wish I could help.”

Her green eyes drift up. “You mean that, don’t you?”

“I really do.”

She bumps my arm with hers. “I wish you could. I’m not sure what to do except show up and… how do they say it? Go with the hits?”

“Roll with the punches.”

“That’s it,” Zoe smiles, but there’s pain behind it. “Let’s hope there are no actual punches.”

I offer a smile to make her feel better, even though it’s hard for me. What I want to say is cancel the wedding . “If you need to talk to someone before, or after...” We stop at my Jeep, and I open the passenger door for her, “…please call me.”

“Thank you, Tom.”

“I mean it.”

“I’m so tired.”

“You want my coffee?”

A laugh bubbles up, brightening her beautiful face and making my night. “No no no, but thank you. I would be bouncing off the halls.”

“Walls.”

“Right. Walls .” She hands me Ralphie’s carrier and climbs in. As soon as her seatbelt is on, I rest the carrier on her lap and she hugs it close again. “I’m going to sleep in tomorrow. Amelia is opening up the shop. I may not even come in at all.”

I close the door, feeling her looming absence already hitting me as I walk around the front grill, heading for the driver’s side.

What does it matter, though? She’s getting married soon, and what can I do about it? Try to stop her? Declare my adoration for her and tell her, drop the rich guy and give me a shot! If all goes well, I’ll be doing alright financially in a few years. Wait for me?

Wait with me.

As I climb in, Zoe says, “Thanks for driving me home,” her fingers brushing against my arm in a soft caress. “I appreciate it.” She withdraws her hand and stares forward, unaware of the goosebumps she inspired. “And thank you for your jacket,” she adds, tugging it closer around her shoulders.

“I’ll turn on the heat,” I mutter, thinking it already feels damn hot to me, but I know I’m alone in that.

Why didn’t I tell her earlier how I felt? Elena was right, I had my chance for ten whole months and didn’t take it.

Since I’ve been to her apartment several times to help her move plants she cultivated at home, over to her shop for sale, I don’t need to ask directions. We drive in silence, both of us weighed down by the impending marriage for completely different reasons.

Each stoplight switches to green too fast, and suddenly my time with her is over. “We’re here, Boss.”

From her profile she watches me, concern etched into her face. “You look stressed out. Why don’t you come up for a bit?”

I clear my throat. “Are you sure?” Being alone with her is exactly what I want.

“Yeah, I’ll make some tea and you can drink your coffee. Oh! Do you have to study right away?” she laughs lightly. “I don’t want to keep you from it.”

I shake my head once, “I can stay with you for a bit,” heart pounding as I jump out of the Jeep, “Wait there!” and jog around to open her door. “I’ll help you with Ralphie.”

“Meow!”

“He’s thanking you,” she informs me without humor as I take the carrier from her lap and watch her unbuckle her seatbelt.

“You’re welcome, Ralphie,” I mumble, staring at her until I realize what I’m doing. Stepping back, I peer through the mesh of the carrier and focus on him to distract myself. “Hey buddy, you tired of being in wheels?”

“I’m sure he’s ready for dinner,” Zoe agrees and jumps down. I hand him over, shut the passenger door, and we walk to her sixteen-unit apartment building. It’s from another era, needs some paint, but is cute as hell. I live in one like it about nine blocks from here, but she’s never been to my place. Never had reason to be. “You forgot your coffee, Tom.”

I glance to my empty hands, break into a grin and run back. “Just a sec!” I swing open the door, grab the paper cup by its lid and shut the door, turning quickly to find Zoe waiting for me patiently, Ralphie’s carrier close against her chest, my jacket hugging her shoulders. I hold it up. “Got it!” and the bottom falls out, leaving only the lid in my hand, coffee exploding down my polo shirt and khakis. I shut my eyes, lips tight. “Great.”

“Oh no!” Zoe cries out.

I start laughing, shaking my head. Zoe begins to laugh, too, a welcome and free sound that melts me into nothing but happiness. I open my eyes, hold my fist up to the sky and call out a sarcastic, “Thanks guys.”

Zoe looks up. “Who’re you talking to? God?”

“My angels. God is too busy to pull a prank like this.”

Grinning, she waves me to her. “Come on. I’ll clean you up.”